Multi-positional tail skids and associated methods of use

A method for preventing damage to an aircraft from incidental runway contact during takeoff and landing operations, the aircraft having a fuselage, a main wing attached to the fuselage, a main landing gear extendable downward from at least proximate to the main wing, and a nose landing gear extendable downward from a forward portion of the fuselage, the method comprising:

• moving a skid surface to a first position relative to the fuselage for takeoff of the aircraft, the aircraft including a skid member having first and second portions, the first portion being coupled toward an aft portion of the fuselage and the second portion supporting the skid surface and being movable relative to the aft portion of the fuselage;
• and
• moving the skid surface to a second position relative to the fuselage for landing of the aircraft, wherein when the skid surface is in the first position the skid surface is closer to the aft portion of the fuselage than when the skid surface is in the second position, and wherein the skid surface is configured to contact a surface of a runway when the skid surface is in the first and second positions.

A method for protecting an aft body contact point on a fuselage of an aircraft during takeoff and landing operations, the aircraft having a main wing, a main landing gear extendable downward from at least proximate to the main wing, and a nose landing gear extendable downward from a forward portion of the fuselage, the method comprising:

• moving a skid surface configured to contact a surface of a runway to a retracted position relative to the aircraft fuselage for takeoff of the aircraft, the aircraft including a skid member having first and second portions, the second portion supporting the skid surface, the skid member being pivotally attached to the fuselage aft of the main landing gear and movable about a skid pivot axis;
• and
• moving the skid surface to an extended position relative to the aircraft fuselage for landing of the aircraft, wherein when the skid surface is in the retracted position the skid surface is closer to the aft portion of the fuselage than when the skid surface is in the extended position, and wherein the skid surface is configured to contact a surface of a runway when the skid surface is in the retracted and extended positions.

A method for protecting an aft body contact point on a fuselage of an aircraft during takeoff and landing operations, the aircraft having a main wing, a main landing gear extendable downward from at least proximate to the main wing, and a nose landing gear extendable downward from a forward portion of the fuselage, the method comprising:

• moving a skid surface configured to contact a surface of a runway to a retracted position relative to the aircraft fuselage for takeoff of the aircraft, the aircraft including a skid member having first and second portions, the second portion supporting the skid surface, the skid member being pivotally attached to the fuselage aft of the main landing gear and movable about a skid pivot axis;
• and
• moving the skid surface to an extended position relative to the aircraft fuselage for landing of the aircraft, wherein when the skid surface is in the retracted position the skid surface is closer to the aft portion of the fuselage than when the skid surface is in the extended position, wherein moving the skid surface to the retracted position for takeoff of the aircraft includes automatically moving the skid surface to the retracted position at least partially in response to a signal indicating that weight has been on wheels of the main landing gear for more than a preselected period of time.

A method for protecting an aft body contact point on a fuselage of an aircraft during takeoff and landing operations, the aircraft having a main wing, a main landing gear extendable downward from at least proximate to the main wing, and a nose landing gear extendable downward from a forward portion of the fuselage, the method comprising:

• moving a skid surface configured to contact a surface of a runway to a retracted position relative to the aircraft fuselage for takeoff of the aircraft, the aircraft including a skid member having first and second portions, the second portion supporting the skid surface, the skid member being pivotally attached to the fuselage aft of the main landing gear and movable about a skid pivot axis;
• and
• moving the skid surface to an extended position relative to the aircraft fuselage for landing of the aircraft, wherein when the skid surface is in the retracted position the skid surface is closer to the aft portion of the fuselage than when the skid surface is in the extended position, wherein moving the skid surface to the retracted position for takeoff of the aircraft includes automatically moving the skid surface to the retracted position at least partially in response to a signal indicating that one or more throttle levers are set to a position greater than a preselected position.

A method for protecting an aft body contact point on a fuselage of an aircraft during takeoff and landing operations, the aircraft having a main wing, a main landing gear extendable downward from at least proximate to the main wing, and a nose landing gear extendable downward from a forward portion of the fuselage, the method comprising:

• moving a skid surface configured to contact a surface of a runway to a retracted position relative to the aircraft fuselage for takeoff of the aircraft, the aircraft including a skid member having first and second portions, the second portion supporting the skid surface, the skid member being pivotally attached to the fuselage aft of the main landing gear and movable about a skid pivot axis;
• and
• moving the skid surface to an extended position relative to the aircraft fuselage for landing of the aircraft, wherein when the skid surface is in the retracted position the skid surface is closer to the aft portion of the fuselage than when the skid surface is in the extended position, wherein moving the skid surface to the extended position for landing of the aircraft includes automatically moving the skid surface to the extended position at least partially in response to a signal indicating that the aircraft has been airborne for more than a preselected period of time.

A system for preventing damage to an aircraft from incidental runway contact during takeoff and landing operations, the aircraft having a fuselage, a main wing attached to the fuselage, a main landing gear extendable downward from at least proximate to the main wing, and a nose landing gear extendable downward from a forward portion of the fuselage, the system comprising:

• contact means for contacting a runway surface;
• and
• means for moving the contact means to a first position for takeoff of the aircraft and to a second position for landing of the aircraft, the aircraft including a skid member having first and second portions, the first portion being attached toward an aft portion of the fuselage, the second portion supporting the contact means and being movable relative to the aft portion of the fuselage, wherein when the contact means are in the first position the contact means are closer to the aft portion of the fuselage than when the contact means are in the second position, and wherein the contact means are configured to contact a surface of a runway when the contact means are in the first and second positions.

A system for preventing damage to an aircraft fuselage from incidental runway contact during takeoff and landing operations, the system comprising:

• contact means for contacting a runway surface;
• and
• means for moving the contact means to a first position for takeoff of the aircraft and to a second position for landing of the aircraft, the aircraft including a skid member having first and second portions, the first portion being attached toward an aft portion of the fuselage, the second portion supporting the contact means and being movable relative to the aft portion of the fuselage, wherein when the contact means are in the first position the contact means are closer to the aft portion of the fuselage than when the contact means are in the second position, wherein the means for moving the contact means to the first position for takeoff of the aircraft include means for automatically moving the contact means to the first position at least partially in response to a signal indicating that weight has been on wheels of a main landing gear for more than a preselected period of time.

A system for preventing damage to an aircraft fuselage from incidental runway contact during takeoff and landing operations, the system comprising:

• contact means for contacting a runway surface;
• and
• means for moving the contact means to a first position for takeoff of the aircraft and to a second position for landing of the aircraft, the aircraft including a skid member having first and second portions, the first portion being attached toward an aft portion of the fuselage, the second portion supporting the contact means and being movable relative to the aft portion of the fuselage, wherein when the contact means are in the first position the contact means are closer to the aft portion of the fuselage than when the contact means are in the second position, wherein the means for moving the contact means to the first position for takeoff of the aircraft include means for automatically moving the contact means to the first position at least partially in response to a signal indicating that one or more throttle levers are set to a position greater than a preselected position.

A system for preventing damage to an aircraft fuselage from incidental runway contact during takeoff and landing operations, the system comprising:

• contact means for contacting a runway surface;
• and
• means for moving the contact means to a first position for takeoff of the aircraft and to a second position for landing of the aircraft, the aircraft including a skid member having first and second portions, the first portion being attached toward an aft portion of the fuselage, the second portion supporting the contact means and being movable relative to the aft portion of the fuselage, wherein when the contact means are in the first position the contact means are closer to the aft portion of the fuselage than when the contact means are in the second position, wherein the means for moving the contact means to the second position for landing of the aircraft include means for automatically moving the contact means to the second position at least partially in response to a signal indicating that a landing gear lever is in a down position.